1. 1© 2009 IBM Corporation The Epistle of James Christ Baptist Church Fall 2014

2. 2 The Epistle of James James 1: 19 -27 - Quit Kidding Yourself Are you a doer or watcher when it comes to spiritual growth? The third test – our response to the truth of God – What does God’s Word say about truth? (John 17:17) Three responsibilities for an honest walk with God 1.Receiving the Word 2.Practicing the Word 3.Sharing the Word

3. 3 James 1: 19 – 22 Receiving the Word What is the final test of salvation? – What might this look like in a believers’ life? Since religious works can be manufactured and untrue, how can we know the difference between these and true good works? How will true believers behave? The Epistle of James

4. 4 James 1: 19 – 22 Receiving the Word What is the right response of a child of God to the Word of God? How can we prepare our hearts to receive the Word of God? – Other vs to consider: Rom 13:12-14; Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:8; Heb 12:1; 1 Pet 2:1-2 The Epistle of James

5. 5 James 1: 22 – 25 Practice the Word In the area of faith, how are the actions of hearing and doing different? – How are they related? What is often substituted for doing the Word? – Why do you think this happens? The Epistle of James

6. 6 James 1: 22 – 25 Practice the Word What mistakes do Christians sometimes make when they look into the mirror? In what way is God’s Word mirroring? – What ministries does the mirror of the Word have? Why did James call the Word of God “the perfect law of liberty?” – John 8:34, John 8:31-32 The Epistle of James

7. 7 James 1: 26 – 27 Share the Word What does James tell us to do? – What reveals the heart (Matt 12:34-35) What is pure religion? Why must we be separated from the world? The Epistle of James

8. 8 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. John 14:21 – 24 - Going Deeper Think about what this teaching of Jesus adds to your understanding of the relationship between true saving faith and obedience to the Word.